HDR announces the addition of Whitney Swanson as office principal in its Brentwood, TN office. The professional services firm specializing in engineering, architecture, environmental, and construction services. As office principal, Swanson will lead and support the office of multidisciplinary professionals, fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture, and driving strategic growth across the region. She is deeply committed to building strong, interconnected teams and cultivating a culture of excellence. She also champions sustainable, inclusive design practices rooted in community development and impact.
“I am excited to take on this new role as office principal at HDR’s Brentwood office,” said Swanson. “My goals include strengthening cross-sector collaboration, mentoring emerging leaders, and expanding our portfolio through innovative, client-driven strategies. I’m also focused on reinforcing HDR’s reputation for excellence and empowering our teams to thrive.”
Swanson has previously led a wide range of projects, from small to mega. She was most recently at Gensler managing a multi-national team on a major $12 billion data center campus. Before that, Swanson was a Project Manager at HDR and worked at Alan Ford Architects PC, Seabold Architectural Studio PC, Midtown Partners Inc., and Mississippi State University’s Jackson Community Design Center.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Whitney back to HDR in this leadership role,” said Kyle Guthrie, HDR’s regional manager for Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas. “Her depth of experience across sectors, combined with her passion for community-focused design and involvement, makes her the ideal leader for our Brentwood office. Whitney brings not just technical excellence, but a vision for how design can elevate both our projects and our community.”
An NCARB-certified Architect, Swanson comes to Tennessee with a Bachelor of Architecture from Mississippi State University and nearly 20 years of experience leading high-impact projects across civic, education, transportation, healthcare, and data center sectors. She began in Mississippi working on sustainable development strategies for mid-sized cities, and from there spanning architecture, planning, community development, and construction.
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